THE
ATASCOCITA FOREST
VOL 1 ISSUE 6 | JULY 2017
ATASCOCITA FOREST COMMUNIT Y GA ZE T TE
THE OFFICIAL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE ATASCOCITA FOREST COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Fireworks in Atascocita Forest July 4th is right around the corner, and with it come the brilliant fireworks displays of people celebrating our nation’s birth. As our subdivision is located outside city limits in unincorporated Harris County, using fireworks in the neighborhood and surrounding area is permitted. We hope that everyone has a blast, and we would like to take this opportunity to offer a few guidelines and safety tips regarding fireworks so that everyone can have an enjoyable and safe holiday. BEFORE YOU SHOOT • Only purchase fireworks designated for consumer use from reliable fireworks sellers. Fireworks in unmarked, brown paper wrappings are intended for professional fireworks displays and are not approved for consumer purchase or use. • Never experiment or try to make your own fireworks. • If you buy fireworks several days in advance of July 4th, store your fireworks in a cool, dry place. • Discuss fireworks safety and rules with your children. • Speak to your neighbors about your plans to shoot fireworks. Please be considerate of your neighbors; they may have small children or pets who will be frightened by the noise. Let them know when, where, and for how long you are planning to shoot. • Also, as you celebrate, please be considerate of the combat veterans in the neighborhood; let them know that you are planning to shoot, as unexpected loud bangs can trigger anxiety and PTSD symptoms. GETTING READY TO SHOOT • Find an outdoor location with a smooth, flat surface free of dry leaves or grass, away from any buildings, houses, vehicles, or trees. NEVER ignite fireworks inside a home or vehicle. • Be sure you have easy access to a fire extinguisher or water in case of a malfunction or fire. Have your hose turned on and ready to use or have several buckets or containers of water handy. • Have an empty bucket or trashcan handy to dispose of spent or malfunctioned fireworks. You can add an inch or so of water to the container to prevent a fire from residual heat or malfunctioned fireworks. • Please be considerate of people driving through the neighborhood and refrain from shooting fireworks from the middle of the street. • If you have pets, ensure they are contained securely; animals can be frightened by the sound of fireworks and can escape easily and become lost if not properly secured. Ideally, pets should be contained in a kennel or in a secure room in your home. Make sure your pets are Copyright © 2017 Peel, Inc.
wearing collars with current identification and contact information, or that they are microchipped. WHEN YOU’RE READY TO SHOOT • NEVER allow children to play with or ignite fireworks without adequate adult supervision • Always read and follow the directions and warnings on the firework’s label. • Ensure that other people are safely out of range before lighting fireworks • Light only one firework at a time • NEVER try to re-light fireworks that have been lit but have not fired. If the firework does not function within 1 minute, douse it with water and wait another minute before putting it in a bucket or trash can. • NEVER give lit fireworks to small children; even sparklers can cause serious burns • NEVER throw fireworks at another person, vehicle, or animal • Store unused fireworks in a non-flammable container. Do not keep fireworks in your pocket. • Dispose of spent fireworks properly. When you are finished shooting, please be considerate of the community and clean up after yourself; do not leave spent fireworks laying in the street or on sidewalks. • While there is not a noise ordinance in unincorporated Harris County, please be aware that July 4th falls on a week day; finish your shooting at a reasonable hour in consideration of your neighbors who may need to wake up early to go to work. HARRIS COUNTY FIREWORKS REGULATIONS A person may NOT: • Explode or ignite fireworks within 600 feet of any church, hospital, asylum, licensed child care center, or a public or private primary or secondary school or institution of higher education unless the person receives authorization in writing from that organization. • Explode or ignite fireworks within 100 feet of a place where flammable liquids or flammable compressed gasses are stored and dispensed. • Explode or ignite fireworks within 100 feet of a place where fireworks are stored or sold • Ignite or discharge fireworks in or from a motor vehicle • Place ignited fireworks in, or throw ignited fireworks at, a motor vehicle (Continued on Page 2) Atascocita Forest - July 2017
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